Ferre: Partying through Chapter 11

Gianfranco Ferre is closing another chapter in its tumultuous history with beaded minidresses and sequined skirts.

The Italian brand, whose founder died three years ago, will be sold in the coming weeks after more than a year in bankruptcy protection. Doug Song of private-equity firm Prodos Capital Management LLC, whose firm is the final bidder for Ferre, was in attendance Friday.

But while many things at the house have changed on the business side during its time in the Italian equivalent of Chapter 11, the expensive look of its partywear for princesses hasn’t.

The collection was a complicated mishmash of origami pleats, woven leather and embroidered bodices. Designers Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi used elaborate techniques and bias cuts, as they do in their own Aquilano.Rimondi line.

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They gussied up founder Ferre’s penchant for black and white in a sequin mini shift in four wide stripes. Wide corset-style belts in woven leather were cinched over a shirt and pants or as part of a dress.

Sometimes the complicated tailoring led to slight flaws, such as a top that bunched in awkward places.

The challenge for Ferre’s new owners will be to build up a new following for this tarnished house.

They may need to start with less-expensive clothing than what was shown Friday.